History of District Heating in the United States

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District Heating in New Ulm, Minnesota

The New Ulm Heating Company was formed in 1916 by New Ulm businessman to construct a new heating plant and distribution system, which began operating later that year.. The system was transferred to the city in 1923 after it had been paid for.

References
1916 "Company Formed to Build Plant," New Ulm Review, April 26, 1916, Page 1.
New Ulm Heating Company to install new heating system in New Ulm.

1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota, February 1922
Plate 18: New Ulm City Water Wks, Heating Electric Light Plant.

1923 "New Ulm, Minn.," The Heating and Ventilating Magazine 20(7):84 (July 1923)
After seven years' operation by a private corporation composed of benefited property owners, during which the business reimbursed the company for all expenses and built up a depreciation fund of nearly $14,000, the New Ulm Heating company's central heating station has reverted to the city. The central station was constructed in 1916 at a cost of $40,699 and the members of the country agreed at the time to turn the station over to the city as soon as they had been reimbursed for cost of construction.

1935 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota, September 1935
Plate 13: New Ulm City Heating & Electric Light Plant.

2019 "New Ulm’s ‘Underground City’", The Journal, January 27, 2019
New Ulm’s ‘underground city’/tunnels were commonly known as the ‘steam tunnels’ because the steam lines were placed inside the existing tunnels under the sidewalks of Minnesota Street. The tunnels, however, were not built for the steam lines. The tunnels were built long before the steam lines came into being. New Ulm’s ‘underground city’/tunnels were located under the sidewalks of Minnesota Street from approximately 4th North to 1st South.
In 1924, an informational circular was issued by the City regarding “Facts and Figures Regarding the New Ulm Heating System.” The circular said in part: “The New Ulm Heating System has been in operation since 1916. It was created for the purpose of utilizing the exhaust steam supply of the Municipal Lighting Plant in the heating of the business district of the city, the money required for its construction being furnished entirely by New Ulm business men . . . It was never intended that the system should be extended to cover any large areas . . .”
In the early to mid 1990s, after almost 30 years of studies, planning, debate, and delays, the New Ulm “Streetscape” was becoming a reality. One study . . . “New Ulm Steam System Study” conducted by HDR Engineering, Inc. stated in part: “The steam mains on Minnesota Street are located in tunnels in generally under the sidewalks and in building basements on both sides of the street. The original tunnel walls are the outside building foundation walls and with the outer tunnel walls constructed of stone. Portions of the tunnels have been replaced with cattle pass, concrete block or poured concrete construction and are in good condition. However, there are approximately 1,1644 feet of tunnel in poor condition which must be reconstructed during the Streetscape Project. It would be unacceptable to have the tunnels in the current condition under the Streetscape as continuing problems would require breaking into the new street and sidewalk surfaces to repair.